Brazilian forward Marta is back from a year-long injury, and her availability for this summer's Women's World Cup, potentially her last, boosts Brazil's outlook.

"(To) be around such a good player and a competitive player and a team player, that is something that will help this team going forward, absolutely," Brazil coach Pia Sundhage said. "I think it's pretty cool to be around Marta."

Youth and experience. Speed and calmness. And lots of goals.

The 22-year-old Vinícius Júnior and veteran Karim Benzema are proving to be ideal attacking partners for Real Madrid, teaming up to perfection to keep the European champion thriving.

Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves will remain in custody pending his trial for allegedly raping a woman as he is considered a high flight risk, the Provincial Court of Barcelona decided Tuesday.

The announcement that a consortium led by a Qatari banker are bidding to buy Manchester United has raised questions about the potential impact for Paris Saint-Germain, who were taken over by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) more than a decade ago.

Barcelona and Manchester United served up a thrilling 2-2 draw in the Europa League knockout playoffs Thursday that outranked anything seen in the Champions League this week.

The former European champions traded leads in a back-and-forth second half of their first-leg game at Camp Nou.

It's the final day for serious bidders to step forward in the race to buy Manchester United.

After months of speculation and soaring share prices, initial offers need to be presented on Friday to merchant bank Raine Group, which is handling the sale of one of the most famous soccer teams in the world.

Barcelona midfielder Pedri will be sidelined with a hamstring injury for an unspecified period of time, putting in doubt his availability for upcoming games against Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Barcelona said Friday that tests revealed that its top playmaker had injured his right hamstring during the previous day's 2-2 draw against United in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. He was replaced in the 41st minute of Thursday's game at Camp Nou.

Days after losing 5-3 to Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal returns to its home continent to try and extend its recent dominance of the Asian Champions League in a second-round match against Shabab Al-Ahli of Dubai.

In 2019, Al-Hilal broke the eastern zone stranglehold of the tournament that had seen teams from Australia, China, South Korea and Japan winning every title but one from 2006 to 2018. The Riyadh club repeated the win in 2021, to become champion of Asia for a record fourth time.

Manchester City seized the momentum in the Premier League title race after Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scored second-half goals to secure a 3-1 win at Arsenal on Wednesday.

Having trailed Arsenal by as much as eight points just weeks ago, City suddenly finds itself atop the table after the defending champions extended their recent dominance over the Gunners and showed they won't relinquish the title easily.

Karim Benzema converted two first-half penalty kicks in Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Elche on Wednesday and became the team's second-highest scorer in the Spanish league with 230 goals.

Marco Asensio and Luka Modric also scored as Madrid won at home to get back within eight points of Barcelona in a game postponed because of the Club World Cup.